The Indianapolis journal., 1887-07-17

Terrible Experience I'm Oksfnokee tGa.)
Death-Trap


TERRIBLE Experience oksfinokee tGa.)
Death-Trap.
Correspondence New Orleans Times Democrat.
II have lived In southern Georgia, near Okef-
inokee swamp, for long time said Mr.. Cromp-
tom, land / have seen great many strange
things while hunting there. but the most terri
BILE ordeal OF my life was passed In that swamp
on the occasion of my last alligator hunt, which
In now os thirty years ago. Okefinokee swamp
In very large tract waste. which extends
over q cor siderable portion of southern Georgia
and part Of Florida. The swamp is, in q great
many places, very dense. but here and there,
In the very densest parts, you will find clear
ings that extend perhaps 100 yards
square. These clearings are not discernible
until You are right close to them, the under
growth and the overshad wing trees make it inn
possible to see far ahead of yon. Such clearings
kre frequently covered with mud and water
foot deep, and sometimes IN the center you find
iii you are unlucky enough to try to wade
through it-holes more like large wells These
holes are not more than ten or fifteen yards
wide, and are often SO deep that it is impossible
20 fathou them, that death is inevitable
whenever person happens TO get into one OF
them Such holes are all the more delusive,
since they do not show their depth on the surface,
nor do they have anything TO denote their ex-
isteace Okehnokee swamp abounds in alliRa-
tors, and was one of q party bent upon alliea-
tor hunting one day in the early spring or 1888
In some parts Of the swamp it is possible to row
n boat many miles before you have to go
on foot, and on the occasion referred to we
went as far as possible In our boat. getting
Dut at a point not far from the Florida line and
proceeding on foot. There were four in our
party, negro TO row the boat. EnRlishman
named Dutton and friend OF his who had only
arrived short time before. Dutton was
elever fellow. generous to a fault, and splen-
did marksnan. During his stay with me we
had been many hunts and in many tight
places, and no matter how great the danger he
never lost his presence of mind In order to kill
an alligator with rifle il is necessary to pierce
its eyes, and never saw Dutton miss but once
When landed Dutton went in front, his
friend near him, then came the old negro, and
closed up the rear. We travelled on Tor about
two miles when the swamp became SO dense
IL seemed could not so much further
and it getting late in the evening
called halt, and determined to go
back to our boat before night caught
the swamp. We were all ready to 60 except
Dutton, who had gone on some distance ahead
of ns and was out of sight. told the old darkY
to hurry ahead and tell him to return, and he had
just started in obedience to my command wnen
the blood in my vents was chilled by an awful
shrek for help. II live for hundred years I
shall never forget that cry It seemed to come
from the direction to the right of us-a direction
which none of Ms had gone and which Dutton
could only have taken by turning away from the
line we had decided TO travel when we started
out AS the last note of that awful cry died
away, the old darky who had started away to do
our bidding seemed paralyzed: and became so
weak he could hardly stand. The only words
could hear from his half-open lips /
rushed past him in the direction of the cry were:
Its no use TO go after him, master; it's no USE"
Dutton' q friend followed me quickly, and
had not gone more than 100 yards when sight
met my eyes the like of which l would rather
undergo death than to again encounter. In an
open space in front of was what appeared to
be a marshy stretch. It looked like it's bottom
was right on the surface, and would have at
cept for the sight before In the midst Of
this marshy lake was Dutton struggling as if
with some invisible power that was drawing him
downward It was only an instant until l dis
cerned what it was that was drawing my friend
into this awful trap of death. Around his body,
coiling in sickening masses, were repties of
every description with which Okefinokee
swamp abound, and his cries piteous.
When we first saw him he was at the edge of the
hole. but by the time we reacned the scene the
reptiles had pulled him. struggling ne was,
into the center and to reach him without the
assistance of a pole was impossible. / looked
around me, but could not see anything that
could possibly reach out to the drowning man.
The space for 100 yards was clear could be.
1t was growing dark, which added horror to the
scene, and every moment Dutton was being
drawn into the bottomless pit. hallooed to him
and implored him to make desperate effort to
come nearer to the edge, SO that could reach
him. He had sunk mp to his shoulders by this
time, and when he did not answer NE looked
to see the A large snake had coiled itself
around his neck. and had drawn tighter and
tighter until Dutton was black in the face and
unable to speak. In another instant ko went /
down. taking the OF squirming reptiles
with him, leaving nothing but bubble on the
surface to denote the terrible struggle that had
taken place. / turned to Dutton' q friend, who
had not said word up to this time, and mo-
toned him to lead the way on to our boat. was
no sick from the sight had seen / was hardly
able TO stand. We managed to get back to where
the old negro He had not stirred a step
and still had thatescared look on his face.
did they choke him TO death r. he asked,
and upon receiving a reply in the affirmative he
led the way to our boat without another word.
buttons friend left for England few days after,
and have never seen him since.
The Eext day asked the old darky why he
acted so strange and seemed to know that the
reptiles lad choked my poor friend, when he ]
was not there. He said:
Master, it is just twenty years ago since I 4
said / would never &c into that swamp again. 4
just twenty years ago was hunting alligators
with my only boy, a smart boy of seventeen
years, and heard that same cry. and rushed to
where he was Co find myself unable to do any
thing for him. / stood there and saw the snakes
strangle him to death and draw him into that
awful hole. When / heard that cry yester-
day knew what it was although III had not
heard it in twenty years, and it struck terror
my soul. 1t would have been use if you had
been able to get a stick / tried that when my
boy was dragged down, and although handed it
to him he could not take it. The monsters had
pinioned his hands and legs. and nothing could
be done but to stand by and watch him die"
AM Since that time" said Mr.. Crompton though
i have lived within two hours ride of the swamp
have never gone near it. The very thought |
sickens me, and causes a shudder to pass over
me-"